Stephen Ward believes Wolves will rise again

Highly ambitious Saunders wants to return as a manager to the same Premier League stage he graced in his playing days after a high-profile career, which included cup winners' medals with Villa and Liverpool.

And Ward revealed Saunders had challenged the players to join him as he plots the way forward.

Ward said: "He's an enthusiastic character and he wants his career as a manager to improve and he wants us to improve and go on that journey with him.

"I remember him when I was growing up. I wasn't a Liverpool or Villa fan, but I remember him clearly and he was a great player."

The left-back believes Wolves are reaping the benefits of going 'back to the future' to a similar style of play used previously under Mick McCarthy after the more patient approach of Stale Solbakken failed.

And there was plenty of evidence of a return to more direct football in Saunders' opening 1-1 draw against Blackburn last Friday.

Ward said: "The manager has a similar style to how we used to play. I thought we took on board exactly what he wanted us to do."

The Irishman feels Wolves are going in the right direction now and will start to move up the Championship playing like they did on Friday.

He said; "If we can continue performances like that I think we can only climb the table.

"The work ethic was outstanding. I think we all stayed with it and we gave the crowd a lot to cheer with the way we forced the game on to them."